Customer Reviews

Cycling's Greatest Misadventures

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I got a chance to read this while on vacation recently. This collection of stories is chock full of variety. I laughed out loud at the image of the cyclist screaming along with a giant rat that hitched a ride. I imagined the strangeness of being confronted by a wild bull while delirious and dehydrated in the Great Basin of Canada, and found cause for reflection of life's fragility in the heartbreaking story of the ride instructor who lost two companions to inattentive drivers. This book may very well make you laugh, cry, and hurl. Highly recommended to the cycling enthusiast.

Unfortunatly, the essays don't have the upbeat humor of the first story of an over zealous triathlete in a spinning class. Thinking that this would be a lot of funny biking stories I bought it. Wish I hadn't. Why?

The story of two guys who decided to throw tacks in front of a women's peloton so the could "come to the rescue of damsels in distress" just pissed me off. The story about people being run over by cars during a cross country ride made me want to give up biking. Oh, then theres the photo crash montage showing someone in mid-flight who died as a result of the crash. Seriously thats just F---ed.

I was skeptical to purchasing this book as the title alone does not say much. However, being the bike geek that I am, I took the chance and this was by far one of the best book buys of 2007. Think of it like that movie you never heard anything about and then buy a ticket, only to have it turn out to be one of the best films ever. In all honestly, I am not yet finished with the book yet (saving it for an upcoming long flight) but so far, it has had me laughing out load on several occasions... And I don't laugh out load.

I laughed, I cried. What more can you expect from a book about the sport you love?

This book had me laughing so hard by the second story, that I thought I would cry. Many of the stories are very funny, a few are a little weird, and some are downright scary. A true treasure trove for someone who reads and rides.

However, I also agree with the earlier review that the photo of the fatal attempt to jump the Great Wall should not be included in the book, or at least addressed in a different fashion.

There aren't too many books about bicycling, so I'll take whatever I can get. But most of the stories in this collection are just mediocre. A couple are truly poorly written. However, if you can wade through all of them, you'll find a couple true gems. The story about a bike ride through New Orleans only months after Katrina was my favorite. The short one about a man's first indoor spinning class had me laughing out loud. Buy it and then pass it on to a friend. It won't be a book you'll want to reread.

I expected more.

There are funny stories, sad stories, historical etc.

Real pell mell.

I got this book for a friend for his birthday and he loved it! He is an avid bike fan and I though it would be a great gift.

My favorite story in this great collection is by Amy Nevala. Her urban misadventure made me cringe and laugh at the same time.

Book was a gift for an avid bicyclist. He enjoyed the book very much. Great timing on the shipping